Eine Leipziger Zeitung Vor 1650

Abstract

Some time ago, a newspaper was discovered in the collection of the Stockholm Royal Library which had appeared prior to the 'Neu-einlauffende Nachricht von Kriegs- und Welt-Händeln' (Recent news on war- and general activities), the first issue of which having been published on the 1st of January, 1660, had so far been considered to be the world's oldest daily paper. The new discovery is the 'Einkommende Zeitungen', published since the 1st of July, 1650. Both papers were published by the Leipzig printer Timotheus Ritzsch. Subsequent research in the same library led to the discovery of 726 issues of a 'Wöchentliche Zeitung'. Although this paper had been mentioned previously by various scholars who thought it very likely that this 'Wöchentliche Zeitung' was a Leipzig publication, the recent Stockholm discovery confirmed beyond any doubt that this paper too had been printed by Timotheus Ritzsch at Leipzig. Various typographical indications as well as reports quoted show this paper to have been published during this city's occupation by the Swedish army. The news items are pro-Swedish and publication of this paper ceased at once following upon the departure of the Swedish occupation forces. Prior to the departure of the Swedes, Timotheus Ritzsch had made sure of the privilege allowing him to continue his activities as a printer and publisher; remarkably soon after the publication of the last issue of the 'Wöchentliche Zeitung' the first issue of the 'Einkommende Zeitungen' appeared: on the 1st of July, 1650.